[OOC] Character Development and Rules Questions

At least for the build I was doing I found many of the talents were missing or otherwise renamed such as Gearhead and Improvised Tools.

What I was really referring to is that you provided a reduced list of archetypes, but did not include which 3 talents each one will have available. The legacy archetypes they would be replacing didn't all have the same 3 options.

Ah, I see your point! Thank you!

I'll dig back in and see what works best. :) What are the thoughts about each of the six archetypes having 5 or six Talents to choose from?

I know three seems to be the traditional approach with the YZE games I've seen, so I totally get why that was your default. But you've also upped the power scaling by having PCs start with three Talents. (iirc, other games start with 1.)

My first inclination would be to see if increasing the talents available for each Training Package solved the issue. Maybe bump each package to 4 (and make sure all 4 talents really lean into the theme of the package).

I'd lean towards Training Packages over archetypes, because archetypes are generally broad strokes. It's the packages where you really get into customization and making your character your own. So... run with that.

Hey guys, just to tell you that im gonna pass on this game. So sorry, but im sure you will all have a great deal of fun!

Hate to lose you, but I do understand.

@MaJunior,@Giardiatric - How are things going? I've got the game thread open if you all feel comfortable jumping in. I'll see if can scrounge up at least one more player too...

Hello all.

I have not yet looked at the rules PDF, and I am very rusty at YZE (it's been many years since I dabbled, and that was brief).

I read though this thread, so I will post a few points that stood out to me.

• I give you complete permission to use anything I say in the game. I do not require 'credit'.

• Ballerina is feminine, but is that a bad thing? The generic term is 'ballet dancer', but that does not actually mean the same thing, a 'Ballerina' is the term for the elite, top performer, not for most people in a ballet troupe. Using Ballerina implies that they are more than just a dancer, which seems right for a 'super-spy' genre. I don't know if that name would confuse people to think they can only be girls. 'Ballerino' is sufficiently obscure that it would confuse things a lot more, in my opinion, I could see people easily ignoring the assumed feminine requirement for Ballerina, but Ballerino is explicitly male, I would avoid that unless you intend that. :)

• I don't recall the build 'balance' in Mutant Year Zero, but, presumably, spies are 'more powerful' than struggling survivors in a post-apocalyptic world? We surely don't want to start too overpowered so there is nowhere to grow into, but the type of game might dictate how strong the starting package is (are we George Smiley, or Jackson Lamb, or James Bond, of Jason Bourne (or Bourne from the books, who is weaker than the movies:), or Austen Powers!? They all have very different points)?

Welcome vagueGM and JoshuaMabry! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and concepts.

@vagueGM - Thank you. :) I'd like to at least give thanks to everyone in this game with "Special Thanks to the playtesters on Gamer's Plane" or something along those line.

With the Ballerina, there is the John Wick spinoff movie by that name coming out which could be a naming tie-in, but not sure. :) For the power level, I think I've been aiming more for the book version of Jason Bourne. It wouldn't take many extra talents I don't think to bring it up to movie versions. (There's also a movie on Netflix called "Heart of Stone" with Gal Gadot that it might be close to.) :)

Mutant Zero has the mutant abilities, we have an extra talent and fighting styles. :)

Thanks for having me @Knighthawke, I'm really looking forward to this. Like @vagueGM, I don't need credit on the published product.

What's everyone thinking of playing? I see there's a good deal of discussion over the archetypes and how many talents they have. Any movement on that front, or should I use the current version of the rules?

I have my character build on the first page. All I have to do is fill out and submit a sheet, but I was waiting in case of any last minute changes. I'm essentially ready to go.

Very welcome. :) I should have the next version, Beta 3, either tomorrow or Saturday which should have the 4 talents per archetype as well as a couple of other fixes/clarifications.

You should be able to get most of the way to a character as is. On those notes, I would love to hear folks thoughts on what talents of adjustments you feel may be needed to the Archetypes. That includes any Pride/Weakness suggestions.


I think the sheet on the thread should be fairly complete. Please let me know too if you feel that anything is missing.


Also, I would love to know how, in general terms, you would picture the ‘iconic’ image of the archetype character.

There is also Red Sparrow —the first book was quite good— which was what I thought of for Ballerina... or ex-Ballerina. Being famous has interesting applications for a spy... but also interesting complications. :)
Really? No problem, but that seems a little at odd with 'Misison Impossible, Atomic Blonde' from the recruitment thread [ref]. I don't mind either way.
Never heard of it.
Oh, yes. That's right. For some reason I was remembering it as 'zombie survival'. Whoops. :)
I might hold off on reading till then, then. I had just gotten to the 'Agents' section when this came through. Maybe I will jump forward to the 'mechanics' sections in the meantime and remind myself how YZE plays.

For the record, I am easy and can play any role we think the party might need. So I am always happy to let the other players decide on their characters and then fill in any gaps in our roster.

If anyone wants me to take a particular role (maybe to act the foil to their gem:) just say so and I will happily look into it.

The new version (Beta 3) is linked.

Looking forward to hearing thoughts and seeing builds. :)

Ah here now and go the download done. :) And I did love that show "Heart of Stone". Any thoughts on what Character I may create? Here a suggestion for 'Bulldog'. Are we using any templates before doing a character sheet?

I'm sorry, where is the link to Beta 3?

https://gamersplane.com/forums/thread/34858/?p=1733459#p1733459

Thank you. Much appreciated.

Everything is looking good so far. The Bulldog (GeneCortess) I think works well with the Lightfinger Tech (Giardiatric) and the Dancer Assassin (maJunior) . Basically, a Close combat specialist, a security specialist, and an investigator...

I'd like to play an infiltration expert. I'm torn between a cat burglar style Lightfinger and a master of disguise Masque. Anyone have any suggestions?

I think I've settled on the Lightfinger with the Sneak training package.